Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton
In this Jan. 17, 2016 photo, Democratic presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, stand together before the start of the NBC, YouTube Democratic presidential debate at the Gaillard Center in Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/Mic Smith)
(Mic Smith | AP Photo)
FLINT, MI -- While the Democratic presidential hopefuls talked about what they would change if they were elected, they also spoke about what should be done in response to Flint's water crisis.
The MSNBC Democratic Candidates Debate was held Thursday, Feb. 4 in Durham, New Hampshire and aired on MSNBC. NBC News' Chuck Todd and MSNBC's Rachel Maddow moderated the debate.
Both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders condemned the state of Michigan and its response to the city's water crisis.
Maddow asked the candidates how they felt about the response to the water crisis and what they would do that hasn't already been done.
Clinton was the first to respond saying there has not been a sense of urgency in response to the crisis.
"Every day that goes by people - particularly the children - are not tested so we can know what steps must be taken to try to remediate the effects of the poisoning that they have been living with is a day lost in a child's life," Clinton said. "I know from work I've done for so many years - lead, the toxic nature of lead can affect your brain development, your body development, your behavior. I absolutely believe that what is being done is not sufficient."
Clinton went on to say the state should be held responsible for fixing residents' pipes, guaranteeing any health care, and educational embellishments children may need moving forward. She also said if the federal government steps in, the state of Michigan should be billed.
"I think the federal government has ways where it can bill the state of Michigan if Michigan won't do it," Clinton said. "There have to be ways we can begin to move and make them pay for it and hold them accountable."
Sanders called for Gov. Rick Snyder to resign in response to the crisis.
"I don't go around asking for governor's resignations every day, in fact I think I never have in my life. Although I did ask for the resignation of Governor Rick Snyder, because his irresponsibility was so outrageous. What we are talking about are children being poisoned."
Sanders said it is "beyond comprehension" that there hasn't been a dramatic response to the water crisis. He said he wondered what the response would be if it was a different community.
"One wonders if this were a white suburban community what kind of response there would have been." Sanders said.
Snyder's Press Secretary Dave Murray said Michigan lawmakers from both sides of the aisle came together to support the governor's requests to help in Flint's recovery.
"Michigan's Senate on Thursday approved a $30 million proposal to provide relief for people paying for water they could not use." Murray said in an email to The Flint Journal. "Governor last week signed a $28 million budget bill that was approved unanimously for a wide array of immediate relief efforts. That's on top of more than $9 million approved unanimously in October for assistance. Gov. Snyder next week will unveil his FY2017 budget recommendation, which will include significant resources for long-term efforts to address Flint's health, education and infrastructure challenges."
Murray said Snyder's administration is hopeful the federal government will approve Snyder's request to expand Medicaid.
"The Obama administration has provided $5 million in emergency assistance, but rejected other requests for help, including a call to expand the Women, Infants & Children program so more Flint children would have access to nutritional programs." Murray said in an email to The Flint Journal. "We're hopeful the federal government will grant Gov. Snyder's request to expand Medicaid to all Flint residents age 21 and younger and other health programs that could provide long-term care. Politically charged comments from national candidates distract from efforts to help Flint residents, who would better benefit from assistance from federal leaders to solve problems created by a failure of all three levels of government."
Clinton said she will be coming to Flint on Sunday, Feb. 7 at Mayor Karen Weaver's invitation. She said she will be getting an in depth briefing on what is and what is not happening in Flint.
Sanders is setting up a campaign office in downtown Flint on Harrison Street near Second Street.
Clinton and Sanders will come to Flint for a debate March 6 as the city remains in the midst of an ongoing water crisis.
The Democratic National Committee announced the Flint debate, and three others, Wednesday, Feb. 3. It came on the heels of state and federal officials' testimony to a U.S. House Committee on the city's water crisis.
Amanda Emery is a police reporter for MLive-Flint Journal. Contact her at aemery@mlive.com or 810-285-0792. Follow her on Twitter or Facebook.